Before his visit, the Secret Service received two threats against him, and agents passed out mug shots of two people to the Seattle Police Special Squad – a now-defunct top unit – with instructions to watch crowds closely.

Kennedy stayed at the Olympic Hotel after his speech but was moved to the ninth floor, rather than staying on the 10th floor presidential suite. Seattle police patrolled the roof and guards were placed at every entrance to the top floors.

The president’s visit went off without a problem. Names of those suspects weren’t published in the P-I.

Kennedy was supposed to return the following year for the Seattle World’s Fair, but said he had a cold.

Seattleites later learned Kennedy was dealing with the Cuban Missile Crisis.

His last trip to this area was on Sept. 27, 1963. When he landed at Sea-Tac International Airport, Secret Service agents were stationed on the roofs of airport buildings, concealed in the crowd and on the field.

There was a slight panic when agents noticed a suitcase on the field. It was confiscated and turned out to be clothes.

Two years and a week after Kennedy’s speech at the University of Washington, he was assassinated in Dallas.